Once Upon A Time is a full-service miniatures shop within a toy store, located in Vienna, Virginia (in the Washington, D.C. suburbs). During 2008, they will be celebrating their 27 years in business.

Once Upon A Time opened its doors in the fall of 1981, and started out as a classic specialty toy store. In 1988, owner Lynne Stierman was visiting family in New Orleans, when she encountered a miniatures store that was closing its doors. She made a deal to purchase the remaining inventory, and thus dollhouses and miniatures were introduced to Once Upon A Time.

The dollhouse miniatures department has grown steadily over the past 18 years, and now offers a full range of dollhouses, furniture, building and finishing supplies, including a complete line of Houseworks components. One of the focal points in the store, is a collection of dollhouses surrounding a village green, where a miniature carousel spins in the summer and where snow falls in the winter.

Once Upon A Time caters to both adult and child enthusiasts, and offers free demonstrations on various finishing techniques throughout the year. It also sponsors several charity fundraisers, including an annual dollhouse raffle for the Komen National Race for the Cure for breast cancer, and a Miniatures Month contest which raises funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

This great shop prides itself on a friendly, knowledgeable staff, who will walk customers through every step of dollhouse construction and decorating—and “if we don’t have it, we’ll do our best to find it for you.” If you’re in the Washington, D.C. or Vienna, VA area, please stop by for a visit at 120 Church St NE. Be sure to call 703-255-3285 for directions.